james otis the pre-revolutionist-第9章
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The House soon prepared a paper to be sent to the British Ministry denouncing the administration of Governor Bernard and protesting against the further presence of a British Soldiery in Boston。 On the 27th of June； 1769； the representatives went further and prepared a petition； praying for the removal of Bernard from the government。 This they might well do for the king had already recalled him！
The Governor went away in such odor as the breezes of the Old Bay have hardly yet dissipated。 He went away； but in the fall added his compliments to the Americans by the publication of sundry letters in which they were traduced and vilified。 To this James Otis and Samuel Adams； were appointed a committee to reply。 They did so in a pamphlet entitled 〃An Appeal to the World； or a Vindication of the Town of Boston；〃 etc。
It was in these tumultuous and honorable labors and excitements extending over a period of fully ten years that the intellect of James Otis became overstrained and； at length； warped from its purpose。
We may regard his rational career as ending with the year 1769。 In September of this year it was noticed that he had become excitable； and that his natural eccentricity was accented at times to the extent of rendering his conduct irrational。
It was at this time that he published in the Boston 〃Gazette〃 what he called an advertisement； in which he placarded the four commissioners of customs； on the ground that they had assailed his character； declaring that they had formed a confederacy of villainy； and warning the officers of the crown to pay no attention to them。
On the evening of the following day； Mr。 Otis went into a coffee…house where John Robinson； one of the commissioners whom he had lampooned； was sitting。 On entering the room； Mr。 Otis was attacked by Robinson who struck him with his cane。 Otis struck back。 There was a battle。 Those who were present were Robinson's friends。 The fight became a melee。
A young man named Gridley undertook to assist Otis； but was himself overpowered and pitched out of the house。 Mr。 Otis was seriously wounded in the head； and was taken to his house； bleeding and exhausted。 The principle wound appeared to be inflicted with a sword； it was in the nature of a cut； and an empty scabbard was found on the floor of the room in which the altercation occurred。
On the morrow； Boston was aflame with excitement。 Otis was seriously injured； in fact he never recovered from the effects of the assault。 He brought suit against Robinson； and a jury gave a judgment of two thousand pounds damages against the defendant。 The latter arose in court with a writing of open confession and apology； and hereupon the spirited and generous Otis refused to avail himself of the verdict。
Could he have thrown off the effects of the injury in like manner； his last years might have been a happier sequel to a useful and patriotic life。
During the sessions of the Assembly； in the years 1770 and 1771； James Otis retained his membership； but the mental disease which afflicted him began to grow worse； and he participated only at intervals （and eccentrically） in the business of legislation。
In May of 1770； a town meeting was held in Boston； and a resolution of thanks was passed to the distinguished representative for his services in the General Assembly。 This was on the occasion of his retirement into the country； in the hope of regaining his health。 At the close； the resolution declared：
〃The town cannot but express their ardent wishes for the recovery of his （Mr。 Otis's） health； and the continuance of those public services； that must long be remembered with gratitude； and distinguish his name among the Patriots of America。〃
From this time forth the usefulness of James Otis was virtually at an end。 In the immortal drama on which the curtain was rising the drama of Liberty and Independencehe was destined to take no part。 The pre…revolutionist in eclipse must give place to the Revolutionist who was rising。 John Adams came after； not wholly by his own ambition； but at the call of inexorable History； to take the part and place of the great Forerunner。
What must have been the thoughts and emotions of that Forerunner when the minute men of Massachusetts came firing and charging after the British soldiers in full retreat from Concord Bridge and Lexington？ With what convulsion must his mind； in semi…darkness and ruin； have received the news of the still greater deed at Bunker Hill？ History is silent as to what the broken Titan thought and said in those heroic days。
The patriot in dim eclipse became at times wholly rational； but with the least excitement his malady would return。 In conversation something of his old brilliancy would return in flashes。 For the rest； the chimes in that high soul no longer played the music of reason； but gave out only the discords of insanity。 He was never reduced to serious delirium or to violent frenzy； but he was an insane man； and under this shadow he walked for the greater part of ten years； during which Independence was declared and the Revolution fought out to a victorious end。
It was in this period of decline and obscuration that James Otis witnessed through the gathering shadows the rise to distinction and fame of many of the patriots whom he had led in the first campaigns for liberty。 John Adams and Hancock were now at the fore battling for independence。 Among those who rose to eminence in the immortal eighth decade was Samuel Alleyne Otis； who in 1776 was elected a representative in the great Congress of the Revolution。 James did not live to see his brother become speaker of the House； but he witnessed in 1780 his service as a member of the Constitutional Convention of Massachusetts。 Afterward； in 1787； he was a commissioner to negotiate a settlement with the participants in Shay's Rebellion。 With the organization of the new national government he became Secretary of the Senate of the United States； and served in that capacity until his death； April 22； 1814。
In 1781； Mr。 Otis was taken by his friend； Colonel Samuel Osgood； to the home of the latter in Andover。 There the enfeebled patriot passed the remainder of his life。 He became very obese； and his nervous excitability to an extent subsided。
He was amiable and interesting to his friends。 His health was in some measure restored； but his intellectual strength did not return。 He thought of going back to Boston； and in one instance he accepted and conducted a case in the court of Common Pleas； but his manner was that of a paretic giant。
The favorable turn in Mr。 Otis's condition was at length arrested by an attempt on his part to dine with Governor Hancock。 At the dinner he was observed to become first sad and then to waver into mental occultation。 He was taken by his brother； Hon。 Samuel Alleyne Otis； to Andover。 The event convinced the sufferer that the end of his life was not distant。
Strange； strange are the foregleams of the things to come！ On one occasion he said to his sister； Mrs。 Warren； 〃I hope when God Almighty in his Providence shall take me out of time into eternity； it will be by a flash of lightning！〃 The tradition goes that he frequently gave expression to this wish。 Did the soul foresee the manner of its exit？
A marvelous and tragic end was indeed at hand。 On the 23d of May； 1783； only a few months before the Briton left our shores never to return but by the courtesy of the Republic； a thundercloud； such as the season brings in New England； passed over Andover。
James Otis stood against the lintel of the door watching the commotion of the elements。 There was a crash of thunder。 The lightning； serpent…like； darted from heaven to earth and passed through the body of the patriot！ Instantly he was dead。
There was no mark upon him； no contortion left its snarling twist on the placid features of him who had contributed so much of genius and patriotic fire to the freedom and future greatness of his countryso much to the happiness of his countrymen。
On the 24th of the month the body of Mr。 Otis was taken to Boston and was placed in modest state in his former home。 The funeral on the 25th was conducted by the Brotherhood of Free and Accepted Masons to which Mr。 Otis belonged。 The sepulture was made； as narrated in the first pages of this monograph； in the Cunningham tomb in the Old Granary Burying Ground。 In that tomb； also was laid six years afterwards； the body of Ruth Cunningham Otis； his wife。 Out of this brief narrative of a great life； let each reader for himself deduce as he may； the inspiration and purpose； without which American citizenship is no better that some other。
Since the first pages of this monograph were written （in March 1898；） the Sons of the American Revolution have marked the grave of James Otis with a bronze reproduction of their armorial badge； and a small tablet； as seen in the Illustration on this page。
＇1＇ John Adams attempts to classify the pre…revolutionary orators of New England according to their ardor and influence。 〃The characters；〃 says he； 〃the most conspicuous； the most ardent and influential； from 1760 to 1766； were first and foremost； above all and over all； James Otis； next to him was Oxenbridge Thatcher； next to him Samuel Adams； next to him； John Hancock； then Doctor Mayhew。〃Works of John Adams； Vol。 X； p。 284。
If we should insert in this list the name of John Adams himself his place would be between his cousin and Hancock。
＇2＇ In a further discussion of the prerogatives of the crown Mr。 Otis said： 〃When the Parliament shall think fit to allow the colonists a representation in the House of Commons； the equity of their taxing the colonists will be as clear as their power is； at present； of doing it if they please。〃
THE CHARACTER OF JAMES OTIS BY CHARLES K。 EDMUNDS； PH。 D。
In viewing Washington as the 〃Father〃 of our country； as he certainly was in a sense which we of to…day are coming more and more to appreciate； in classing Hamilton and Jefferson as brothers of Washington in his great work； and in ascribing to Franklin even a greater share in establishing 〃The United States of America〃 than to any of these three； we are apt to forget those patriots who did so much to keep alive the spirit of liberty and justice in our land during the troublesome times preceding the actual rupture between England and her American Colonies。 While we ascribe great and merited praise to those who not only helped to lay the foundation but also actually began to build the superstructure of our nationhood； let us not forget those who by reason of the slightly earlier day in which they strove needed even a clearer vision to follow the same plans。 They labored before the day had dawned； and yet they held ever before them the same high…minded general principles of liberty and justice which actuated the lives of those who took up their work after them； when the light of Independence was fast breaking on our shores。 Among these pre…revolutionists there is none more worthy of remembrance and admiration than James Otis； the foremost advocate of his time in the Colonies。 Very vigorously he toiled in sowing seed the fruits of which he himself was not to see； but which under the nurture of other able hands and
